Nightmare Cinema (New Horror Anthology w/ Joe Dante)

Five genre directors—Joe Dante (Gremlins, Innerspace), Mick Garris (The Stand), Alejandro Brugués (Juan of the Dead), Ryuhei Kitamura (Versus, The Midnight Meat Train), and David Slade (30 Days of Night)—are joining forces for a new horror anthology film set at a haunted theater, appropriately titled Nightmare Cinema.

Click to expand...

Synopsis:

A series of down-on-their-luck individuals enter the decrepit and spine-chilling Rialto theater, only to have their deepest and darkest fears brought to life on the silver screen by The Projectionist – a mysterious, ghostly figure who holds the nightmarish futures of all who attend his screenings. By the time our patrons realize the truth, escape is no longer an option. For once the ticket is torn, their fate is sealed at Nightmare Cinema.

Outside of Creepshow and (obviously) the third act of Trilogy of Terror, I'm not a fan of the anthology format. Different stories have a disjointed feel outside of the wrap around attempt and tend to pull me out of the movie experience. Of course I hope this turns out to be something special but we will have to wait and see.

I couldn't finish this one. It just felt really cliche with boring characters and so-so stories. I only watched the first two stories before giving up and turning it off. I'd heard positive comments which is why I thought I'd give it a try in the first place but it wasn't my cup of tea.

It's an anthology with five segments. I loved the first, it's easily the best of the five. I haven't seen the director's feature Juan Of The Dead, but it made me want to seek it out.

The other four were just okay. The only one I didn't like at all was the fourth, directed by David Slade. To be honest, I'm struggling to remember it. I do remember the third segment is pretty wild and gory (director of Midnight Meat Train and No One Lives). Mick Garris directed the final segment, which is a decent if cliched story but poorly made.

All I remember about the wraparound is that it took place in an old LA theater (I think the Rialto in South Pasadena if I recall, which was the exterior in the opening of Scream 2) and Mickey Rourke was in it.

It's definitely a fair watch, but nothing worth owning. At least watch the first segment if you can, which is super fun.

The reviews above are disheartening, I have the blu I brought it as it was quite cheap and had such a glowing review on Dread Central. I've not watched it yet and will go in now with more caution, Hey I might enjoy it more now my expectations have been lowered.

The reviews above are disheartening, I have the blu I brought it as it was quite cheap and had such a glowing review on Dread Central. I've not watched it yet and will go in now with more caution, Hey I might enjoy it more now my expectations have been lowered.

Outside of Creepshow and (obviously) the third act of Trilogy of Terror, I'm not a fan of the anthology format. Different stories have a disjointed feel outside of the wrap around attempt and tend to pull me out of the movie experience. Of course I hope this turns out to be something special but we will have to wait and see.

Click to expand...

I know you posted this two years ago, but you should really check out the 1945 British horror anthology Dead of Night. Top notch stuff. TCM usually runs it during October, so if you have that channel you can see it for free.

Thanks. I was hoping Garris had contributed something like a commentary. He's usually good for stuff like that. Even the weaker Masters of Horror episodes offered some interesting insights into the artists who made them and what they'd been attempting, even if it hadn't quite worked out how they planned. Reviews on this have been pretty mediocre, but some supplements would have made me consider picking it up.